Match book slip covers



June 17, 1958 APRIL MATCH BooK SLIP COVERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 00T.. 8, 1956 INVENTOR -HFFRNEY June 17, 1958 L. APRIL v2,839,184

y MATCH 'BOOK SLIP COVERS Filed Oct. 8, 1956 y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

L nrs -HPR 1L Unite States Patent O MATCH BOK SLIP COVERS Lois April, New York, N. Y.

Application October 8, 1956, Serial No. 614,705 1 claim. (c1. 20s- 29) This invention relates to an ornamented, fabricmatch book cover, so designed as to permit the same to be swiftly and easily fitted onto or removed from a conventional match book, the device when fitted on the match book being adapted to improve measurablythe appearance thereof.

As well known, a match book is not in itself particularly attractive. As a result, cigarette lighters are much favored by smokers, particularly ladies, so that one may not haveto exhibit, as for example at social affairs or in company, the utilitarian book of matches.

The main object of the invention, inview of the above, is to provide a cover for a match book which itself will be highly attractive, so that it can conceal the match book on which it is itted, and provide an ornamental smokers accessory which in its own way has as attractive an appearance as a cigarette lighter.

Another object is to provide a device as stated which will be designed to be manufactured at a very low cost considering the advantages resulting from the use thereof.

A further object is Vto permit the device to be slipped onto orv removed from a match book so swiftly and easily as`to make the same commercially feasible. A cover for the purposes stated that is difficult and slow to apply or Aremove would constitute so troublesome an accessory as to militate against its commercial success.

AA further object is to provide a match book cover as stated that will be applicable to a wholly conventional match book so as not to require modification or redesign of the match book in any way.

Yet another object is to provide a match book cover that will, in one form thereof, leave exposed only the striking surface of the match book, and in another form will cover even this particular surface of the match book.

A further object of the invention, in the other form mentioned above, is to provide a match book cover that will automatically snap the front panel of the match book to a closed position after removal of a match, so as to insure against ones accidentally leaving the card of matches exposed while the removed match is being struck.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

ln the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a match book cover according to the invention, fitted onto a conventional match book.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view longitudinally through the match book and cover, substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged persepective view of the cover per se., in fully opened, at condition.

ice

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View, still further enlarged, substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3. j

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a plan view on a reduced scale of the cover during an early step in manufacture of the same.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective View, partly broken away, of a modified construction.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 of the modified form, portions being broken away.

Fig. 1l is a front elevational view of the modified construction, in fully closed position.

Fig. l2 is a front elevational View of the modified construction in which the match book has been opened for removal of a match.

Fig. 13 is a front elevational view of the modiiied construction in which the front panel of the cover and match book have been slid upwardly to a slight extent to expose the striking surface of the match book.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-8, the match book cover 10 constituting the invention in eiect constitutes a slip cover for a conventional match book or match supply 12.

The cover 10 is formedentirely from a fabric material, preferably one of the stiffer or heavier, ornamentally surfaced fabrics such as taeta, so as to impart maximum durability thereto, thus to permit the same to be used over and over again on different match books.

In its basic essentials, the cover is provided with a back panel i4 adapted to wholly overlie the back panel of the match book, and projecting at its sides a short distance laterally outwardly from the respective side edges of the back panel of the book. I

Back panel 14 merges at the top or bight part of the match book into a front panel 16 which covers lthe full area of the match book front panel. Panel 16 is securedv at its side edges to a rectangular pocket-forming` portion or ap 18 which is slightly shorter in length than the front panel, thus to terminate short of the bight or bend portion of the match book. Portion 18 cooperates with the front panel 16 in defining on the back of the front panel a pocket adapted to receive the front panel of the match book as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

At the lower end of the back panel 14, there is provided on the front surface thereof a low, transversely extending pocket-forming portion or flap 20, which receives the lower end of the match book.

The attractiveness of the cover is heightened by the provision of ornamental means on the front panel 16, said means being, in the illustrated example, a center bead 22 about which are arrayed smaller beads 24. These are cemented to the fabric material. Obviously, the ornamentation can take various forms, as for example, a miniature bouquet of artificial flowers, etc.

The ornamental means has, it may be noted, a utilitarian as Well as an ornamental function, in that it forms a projection on the front panel against which one may position his or her thumb for the purpose of opening the match book.

It may thus be noterhfrom the description `so faripro'- vided, that the match book cover constituting the invention includes an elongated, substantially rectangular, fabric body 25 forming integrally connected front and back panels 14, 16, respectively, and having at its respective ends oppositely opening pockets one for receiving the base O11 bottom-.endvofzthamatchzbook and the other for receiving the fron-t panel of said book. y

The match book or match supply itself is conventional, vand includes a folder havingpa back panel 26 engaging againstthe inner surface of the `backpanel 14 of thercover, and a front panel 23 integral with;the baekpanel :2.6, andl fittinginto thepocketprovided .at theback of the front panel 16 of the removable cover. The match bookefurjthen, includes ,the lip. 3.0 coated with a `suitable. abrasive; andthe card of'matches or match assembly 32 stapled torthetflipi and to thet back panel 26y by meansof vthe 'usual staple In use, one simply opens the removable cover andslips the front panel 28 ,of ythematch bookinto. the large pocket of the device. One. then.V engages the lower end ofthe; matchrbookinV thesmall pocket- The matchv book is; in this way fully covered, and oneV may then engage thefront panel 16 oftheldevice baekof the. lipv 3l) of the match book (see Fig. 2) in the same way that the yfront panel vof thematch book is engaged in back of. said lip whenthe v match book is not in use.

The matches are removed in the usualrway, and when the supply of matches is completely exhausted, so that the match book is to be discarded, one easily slips the empty matchy book out of the cover l0, and places in the cover a fresh book.

It is to bennderstood that the match book cover may be rectangular, oval, heartshaped orany other configuration andthat the beads 22 and 24may be cemented, stitched or secured to the front panel 16 Vin any desired. manner. This. ornamentation maybe inthe formA of beads, appliques or any other type of decoration.

Referring to'Fig. 8, in constructing the cover 10, one. usesa rectangular pieceof fabric, as shown in Fig. 8, and

^ folds inwardly the side and end edge portions, .stitching 'the same to provide side and end hems 36, 38, respec. tively; Then, the fabricis foldedalong a transverse-line` 40'adjacent one end to define the smaller pocket. The ends of theaporpocket-forming portion 29 are cemented into" the hemmed sides .of the back panel 14.

kA substantial Ydistance inwardly from the other end of the fabric, thematerial is folded inwardly along a transverse fold-line 42 to provide the large pocket. Again the sides of the pocket-forming ap or portion 18-are cemented to the sides ofthe'front panel 16.' This completes the device exceptrforadding the ornamentation on the front panel, ifsuch is desired. Y

In Figs. 9-13 a modiication is shown. This is identical-to the rst form except for extension of a rectangular springwire frame 44 within the side hems.

Thus, inthe modified form the cover 10'1's identical to thefiirst form. Before folding over the side .and end hems, however, a rectangular wire frame 44is positioned as shown in Fig.V 10. This, as will be noted from Fig. 10, is shorter in length than the fabric blank, and includes sidemembers 46 extending within the side hems 38,` and` end members 48 extending one along the' fold line 40 and the other extending'lalong the fold line 42. They side `and` inrabutting relation to the pocket ap 20 so as topnormally cover the striking surface of the match book, thus concealing all portions of the match book.

To remove a -match,one lifts thefrontspanel-.tofthe l Y side members 46 of the frame.

' position.

y 4 Fig'. l2`position against the restraint of the now U-shaped and on release of the liftedfront panel, the-tension of the side members 46 is permitted to assert itself as a Y result of whichfthe front panel snapsy back to its Fig. 11 There is no necessity of engaging the front panel under the lip of the matchbook. Then, in striking the match, one merely shifts the -front panel 16 in a direction away from the pocket apfZll in the manner shown rings, pendants, brooches, etc.

While. I. have .illustrated and described. thev preferred. embodiments Vvof Ymy invention, itis to beunderstood. that I do not limit .myself to the precise.constructions.v herein disclosed',andthatvarious changes andrmodiications may bemade the scope of the invenn'oxns y defined in the appended claim;

Havingv th'usdescribedmy invention, what Ir claimrvas new, and desire to secure by United` Statesk Letters..

Patent is:

In combination, a match supply of the class hereinV set forth including a matchassembly, a folder therefor havingfront 'and rearl panels and a lip, `a cover for said. match supply comprising a exible body with a short.

pocket. at one end thereof extending the full widthof the'bodyand receiving the frontr panel ofthe folder and the'lipin exposed condition, an elongated' pocket on theV other end. of' the. body extending the'fullwidth of the" body and receiving the rear panel of the folder,

said pockets being disposed in confronting relation" and opening in oppositedrections away from the ends of thel body onrwhich'theyrare disposed, theexible body` being of rectangularA configuration and including front andf'- back panels-integrallyconnected intermediate the -ends of the body and respectively proportionedto overlie f thefront and back panels of the folder, said shortipocke't p being formed on the inner surface of the back panel ofl ther cover, said elongated pocketbeing formed" onthe` inner surface of the front panel of the cover, said 'pockets being defined byy inwardly folded end portions of the back and front panels-of thecover, said body being formed with side hems, yand a rectangular springiwire frame-enclosed in the side'hems, said frame'being'ten-V sioned normallyftorform theV cover .into a 'substantial U-shape'to -bias theA folder front panel toV a normally@ closed position inside the lip.

References'Cited inthe file of this Apatent UNITED STATES PATENTSY 231,394-v Brown Aug. 24,1 18805' 326,838 Boyce.- Sept. 22,' `1885 1,875,284 Waldman Aug. 30, 19'32"y 2,148,792 Yankovitch Feb. 28; 1939 23S-745345l Montgomeryk Nov. 6,y 1951` The match is removed,i

Y that one mayrhave., a Asetof thecoversgin fabrics of different colors, so that alady may match `her ensembley or select a: cover 10,*v V particularly ornamented to complement and harmonize'. with various vday or evening wear accessories, suchas ear-V 

